Building construction



July 21, 1936. F. M. VENZIE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 1, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT R fzzaf/g /c/r/z 7;

ATTORNEY July 21, 1936. F. M. VENZIE 1 2,048,641

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed April 1, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Frederick M. Venzie, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to National Gypsum Company, Bufialo, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 1, 1933, Serial No. 663,916

14 Claims.

My invention relates to building construction and more particularly to a novel means for attaching surfacing units such as panels to a supporting framework.

The present invention contemplates the use of construction units such as panels of plaster board and a conventional supporting framework such as is frequently made up of either wooden risers or such metal units as plasterers channels and the like, and includes the provision of novel clips for connecting the surface units to the supporting members. Such clips include a resilient member adapted to form a portion of the linkage between the surfacing units and the support whereby the surfacing units may have a certain amount of "give with respect to their supports.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel resilient clip which, when the pressure is applied to the surfacing unit supported by the clip, will allow the unit to move with the pressure. Such a result is particularly desirable in those building constructions where an efiort is being made to reduce noises and to impart to the walls a sound absorbing characteristic.

Another and more specific object of my invention is to provide a clip having resilient characteristics which may be readily applied to a support and to which surfacing units may be connected.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel resilient clip in which the spring functions as a portion of the means for holding a panel in position.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a clip which may equally well be applied to either a wood or metallic support.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following specification, claims, and from the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 Ba side elevation of one form of clip embodying my invention as attached to a wooden Fig. 7 is a plan view of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation 'of a spring which may be used in connection with the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 5 to 7 and 9 to 11;

Fig-9 is a side elevation of another embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a. front elevation of the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1 as applied to a metal supporting member;

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of another embodiment of my invention;

I Fig. 15 is a plan view of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 14; and

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15.

Referring now particularly to the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and 12 and 13, a. clip C comprises two essential elements, a curved spring 20 and a panel holding member 2| afiixed to a flange 22 lying in a plane at a right angle to the spring by a rivet 23. The upper'end of the spring 20 is flattened and lies in a plane parallel to the fingers of the panel holding member 2| and is perforated as at 24- for the reception of nails 25 by which it may be attached to. a Wooden support W. The flange 22 is positioned adjacent a flat portion 20a of the spring 20 and is bent at its outer end 26 at a right angle into substantially parallel relationship with the flat portion 20a of the spring 20 to assist in maintaining the member 2| on the flange 22. Ifgthe clip is applied to the walls of a building, this may be sufiicient to hold the member in place and the rivet.23 may be eliminated. V

The member 2| comprises a body. portion 21 from the opposite ends of which extend at right angles thereto fingers 28 having outwardly flaring ends and from the middle portion of which extends a finger 29 at right angles tothebody portion 2'! and in a direction opposite to the fingers 28. The finger 29 cooperates with the face of the flat portion 200. of the spring 20 to hold in position a panel P and the fingers 28 engage the upper end of. a panel or panels beneath the plate. It will be obvious that with the construction above described the clip may be placed in position above the lower paneL'the spring nailed to the wooden support and the upper panel'then placed in posip andin thesame plane extends an arm 46 carryangles to the longitudinal axis of the clip and the upper end' of the spring may bend over and,

be clinched around the support as illustrated.

In the embodiment of my invention'shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive the clipmay more properly be spoken of as supporting the spring than the reverse. As herein illustrated the spring is adapt ed for connection onlyjto a metallicsupport and it may be identical with that shownin Fig. 1 et seq. above described, but'the flattened end portion provided with holes is eliminated; In this embodiment the spring '30 carries a centrally 10 cated flange 3| upon which is positioned a panel holding member 32 held in position by a rivet 33..

The member 32 comprises a plate 34 havingat its ppposite :eniisv opposed pairs of downwardly vextending fingers35 adapted to engage the. upper end oi a panel P and a centrally located upwardly extendingfing-er 36. adapted to co-operate with a centrally. located fiat face a1of the spring 30 .to hold in position a panel resting upon the plate 34. V The plate34 carries in its own plane two rearwardly extending L-shaped fianges 31 the 'endof. one of which extends upwardly and the :endof 1311670171181 of which extends downwardly for engagement about a channel member C. In 7 this embodiment of my invention the spring is always under tension ,as' upon 'this tension de-- i pends the maintenance of the clip in itsposition with regard to the channel. r i

In the embodiment "of my invention shown in V Figlsr9 .to 1'1 inclusive,the spring 40 which may be identical withthat shown in Fig. 5 et seq.car-

ries, on a flange 4| ,the panel supporting member i 42 comprising a plate 43 having at Opposite ends,

H opposed downwardlyextending pairs of fingers 44 and having an oppositely and separ'ately disposed finger 45 extendinglu'pwardly opposite to a fiat portion' llla of the;spring-40.- From the. plate 43 ing "at its "outer end at right angles theretoand at least" partially in the same plane, a finger 41 adaptedi tobe bent around the rear face of a channel member C. "In this embodiment the finger'4l co-operates with the spring4li to maintain the clip inpredetermined position with: respect toits'suppo rt. a

' [In the embodiment of-my invention, adapted.

for connection to a wood support, shown in Figs.

, '14 to 16 inclusive, spring'50 maybe identical with 'that'shown in Fig. 3 except that thefiange has no upward bend. The-panel holding 'member comprises a. plate 5| at opposite ends ofv which extend pairs of'upwardly ertending fingers 52 centrally of which extend downwardly pairs of opposed fingers 53. Centrally of the clip are dis-v V posed two upwardly extending fingers 54 and55 the finger 55 being to the rear' of the, clip and havingat-its ends fianges 56 adapted to be bent as at 51 about'the spring 50 andhold the member. in predetermined position with respect to the S -j 7 7 t Various modifications may be made in the foregoing embodiments offmy invention without departingjrom the spirit and scope ther eof asset forth in the following'claims. 7 What is claimed is: i

l. A clip comprising panel engaging means and ,means' for resiliently connecting said first named means to a support, said last named means forming a part of said first named means.

2. A clip comprising a spring having a fiat surface, a flange lying in a plane normal to said surface, a member having a plurality of panel 5' engaging fingers, andmeans for connecting said member to said flange in a position whereby one of said fingers co-operates with the fiat portion of said spring to engage a panel. f I a 3. A clip comprising a spring having a fiat'sur- 10 face, a flange lying in a plane normal to said 7 surface, a member having a panel engaging finger, and 'means for connecting'said member to said flange in a position whereby said finger cooperates with thefiat portion of said spring to engage apanel. r

' 4. A clip comprising a spring having a fiat surfaceya flangeka member having a panel engaging finger, and means for connecting said member'to said flange in a position whereby one of 20 said fingers co -operates with the'fi'at portion of 7 ,6. A' clip comprising a'finger, a spring cooperating with said finger to engage'apanel positioned between said' finger and'saidspring, and

means for connecting said {clip to a support. 1

'7. A clip comprising aunitary structure includ- 'ing means embracing a metallic support and nieans'embracing a wall panel, and means fixed 'to said unitary structure resiliently engaging said 5;

support and holding said support embracing .meansincontact therewith; 1 r a i 8.- In a wall construction in combination with a' penetrable support; a'clip comprising a perforated spring, a fiange on said spring, a member having; a panel engaging finger, means for co nnecting said member to said flange in a position whereby one of said fingers co-operates with saidspring to engage a panel; and means passing through the perforation in said spring and penetrating said' support for connecting said clip to said support; I g I i V 9. In a wall construction in combination with a penetrable support; .a'clip comprising aperforated spring, a flange on said spring lying in a plane 18.1} a right angle to the planeof said spring, a'member having a panel engaging finger,

i means including a finger on said fiangeparallel to said spring for co-nnecting'said;.me'mber to said spring; and means passing through the per foration in said spring and penetrating said support for connecting said spring to said support.

. 10. In a wall construction in combination" with a support; a clip comprisinga spring, a flange on said spring lying in .a plane at a right angle to the plane of said spring, a member having a. panelengaging finger, means including a finger on said flange parallel to saidspring for connecting said member to said'spring, and means for connecting said spring tofsaid support. I

11. In a wall construction, in combination with I a support; a spring, a flange on said spring; a member having a panel engaging finger; means for connecting saidmember to said fiangeln a position" whereby one of said fingers co-operates 7Q with said spring to engagea panel, and, means on. saidmember for maintaining 'said spring in contact with said support. 1: '12. In a wallconstruction', in combination with a support; a spring, a'fiange .on' said spring; .a '75;

member having a panel engaging finger seated on said flange; and means on said member connecting said member to said flange in a position whereby one of said fingers co-operates with said spring to engage a panel.

13. In a wall construction, in combination with a support; a spring engaging said support; a member connected to said spring and a rigid finger on said member co-operating directly with said spring to engage a panel between said spring and said finger.

14. A clip comprising a plurality of fingers, a. spring co-operating with one of said fingers to engage a panel positioned between said fingers and said spring, and means for connecting said clip to a metallic support.

FREDERICK M. VENZIE. 

